The CFPB’s giant database of consumer complaints

For the last several years, anyone with a gripe about a bank, mortgage lender or student loan servicer has had a place to go.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has maintained a giant public database of consumer complaints that contains more than 900,000 grievances against financial companies. But the future of that complaint database is up in the air.

The database plays an important role within the agency to help staff members spot fraudulent practices, identify trends and patterns and prioritize their efforts.